ONS: 01 July 2015

AFRICA: In Egypt, ISIS affiliated militants launched a series of simultaneous attacks on army checkpoints in the north of the Sinai Peninsula, killing at least 30 soldiers.

AMERICAS: A senior Obama administration official said the US and Cuba are set to announce the opening of embassies in Washington and Havana.

ASIA: In China, the legislature passed a wide-ranging new national security law amid concerns that Beijing is enforcing tighter limits on rights.

EUROPE: The UN reported that a record 137,000 people made the journey across the Mediterranean to Europe in the first half of 2015.

MIDDLE EAST: Iran and six world powers extended into next week their talks on finding a comprehensive agreement of Tehran’s nuclear program.

TECHNOLOGY: The US Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court ruled that the NSA may temporarily resume its once-secret program that systematically collects records of Americans’ domestic phone calls in bulk.

TOP STORY

Greece: EU leaders to meet after Greek government misses IMF payment.

European sources said Greek PM Tsipras has written to creditors saying he is ready to accept bailout terms but has insisted on several further conditions.

The European Central Bank meets again Wednesday to decide whether to keep open the Emergency Liquidity Assistance or ELA program for Greece.

Eurogroup head Jeroen Dijsselbloem said that a meeting on Greece would be postponed from 0930GMT to 1530GMT.

A new poll showed that nearly one in two Greeks intend to vote ‘No’ in a weekend referendum on the terms of its bailout, but capital controls are boosting the ‘Yes’ camp.

With its failure to repay the roughly 1.6 billion euros to the IMF, Greece became the first developed country to fall into arrears on payments to the fund.

Egypt: ISIS affiliated militants launched a series of simultaneous attacks on army checkpoints in the north of the Sinai Peninsula, killing at least 30 soldiers. (AP)

Libya: The US and five European allies called for rival groups in the country to endorse a deal at UN-led negotiations to resolve the country’s ongoing crisis. (AFP)

Nigeria: The army said troops have arrested a businessman accused of “participating actively” in Boko Haram’s mass abduction of nearly 300 schoolgirls from the northeastern town of Chibok. (AP)

AMERICAS

Region: A senior Obama administration official said the US and Cuba are set to announce the opening of embassies in Washington and Havana. (AP)

Brazil: Lawmakers narrowly rejected a proposed constitutional change that would have reduced the age of criminal responsibility from 18 to 16 years of age. (AFP)

Guatemala: The Constitutional Court rejected President Perez’s appeal for presidential immunity that also sought to legally erase a pre-trial investigation of graft allegations. (AFP)

Mexico: Amnesty International placed the government under renewed pressure to resolve the case of the alleged extrajudicial killings of at least 12 gang suspects by soldiers a year ago. (AFP)

ASIA

Afghanistan: At least 14 suspected rebels were killed when a US drone targeted an alleged hideout in Nangarhar province. (DPA)

China: The legislature passed a wide-ranging new national security law amid concerns that Beijing is enforcing tighter limits on rights. (AFP)

China: Tens of thousands joined a pro-democracy march on the anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover in what organizers said was a chance to work out the movement’s next step as momentum wanes. (AFP)

Indonesia: President Joko Widodo promised a review of the country’s ageing air force fleet and a defense modernization drive, as the death toll from the crash of a military transport plane in the north of the country climbed past 140. (Reuters)

Thailand: Officials said they arrested two key figures in a human trafficking ring that provides slave crews for the country’s fishing boats. (AP)

EUROPE

Region: The UN reported that a record 137,000 people made the journey across the Mediterranean to Europe in the first half of 2015. (AFP)

France: Striking ferry workers blocked the port of Calais for a third consecutive day, causing havoc with cross-Channel sailings and huge tailbacks on roads in the region. (AFP)

Italy: Anti-terrorism police said they are executing arrest warrants against 10 people accused of preparing to go to Syria to fight. (AP)

MIDDLE EAST

Iran: The government and six world powers extended into next week their talks on finding a comprehensive agreement of Tehran’s nuclear program. (BBC)

Lebanon: The army said it killed five militants in a clash at the border zone with Syria, the second such confrontation in less than a week. (Reuters)

Palestinian Territories: Leaders asked PM Hamdallah for a “temporary” cabinet reshuffle, as in-fighting between political factions further dampened chances of a unity government. (AFP)

Syria: Kurdish forces regained full control of Tal Abyad, expelling ISIS fighters who had seized a district of the strategic border town. (AFP)

Yemen: Rebel fire on a residential district of Aden killed at least 20 civilians and wounded 41. (AFP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Communications: The US Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court ruled that the NSA may temporarily resume its once-secret program that systematically collects records of Americans’ domestic phone calls in bulk. (NYT)